China Eastern AirlinesMU

China Eastern Airlines is one of China's "Big Three" carriers and the country's second-largest airline by passengers carried, transporting over 130 million passengers annually. Headquartered in Shanghai, the airline operates a fleet of approximately 600 aircraft, making it one of the world's largest airlines by fleet size.

As a SkyTeam member since 2011, China Eastern offers extensive global connectivity through 20 alliance partners. The airline is known for its strong network across Asia-Pacific, comprehensive service to North America and Europe, and modern fleet including the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 with premium cabin products.

China Eastern wholly owns Shanghai Airlines and China United Airlines, creating a comprehensive network centered on Shanghai's two major airports.

Carry-On Allowance

Personal Item + Cabin Bag:

• Dimensions: 55 x 40 x 20 cm (22 x 16 x 8 in)
• Weight: 10 kg (22 lbs) maximum per piece
• First Class: 2 cabin bags allowed
• Business/Economy: 1 cabin bag allowed

Class	Cabin Bags	Weight Limit
First Class	2 pieces	10 kg (22 lbs) each
Business Class	1 piece	10 kg (22 lbs)
Economy Class	1 piece	10 kg (22 lbs)

Checked Baggage

China Eastern uses different baggage systems depending on route:

Domestic Flights (Weight-Based System):

Class	Free Allowance	Maximum per Bag
First Class	40 kg (88 lbs)	50 kg (110 lbs)
Premium Business/Business	30 kg (66 lbs)	50 kg (110 lbs)
Premium Economy/Economy	20 kg (44 lbs)	50 kg (110 lbs)

International Flights (Piece-Based System):

Americas (US, Canada, South America):

Class	Pieces	Weight
First/Business	2 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each
Premium Economy	2 bags	23 kg (50 lbs) each
Economy (Y/B Class)	2 bags	23 kg (50 lbs) each
Basic Economy	1 bag	23 kg (50 lbs)

Europe (including Russia, Turkey):

Class	Pieces	Weight
First	3 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each
Business	2 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each
Premium Economy	2 bags	23 kg (50 lbs) each
Economy (Y/B/Flex/Standard)	1 bag	23 kg (50 lbs)
Basic Economy	0 bags	Purchase required

Australia, New Zealand, Japan:

Class	Pieces	Weight
First	3 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each
Business	2 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each
Premium Economy	2 bags	23 kg (50 lbs) each
Economy (Y/B/Flex/Standard)	2 bags	23 kg (50 lbs) each
Basic Economy	1 bag	23 kg (50 lbs)

Size Limit: 158 cm (62 in) linear dimensions per bag

Excess Baggage Fees

International Routes:

Region	1st Extra Piece	Additional Pieces
Americas	CNY 1,300 (~$180)	CNY 2,000 (~$280)
Australia/New Zealand	CNY 1,100 (~$150)	CNY 2,000 (~$280)
Europe/Africa	CNY 1,000 (~$140)	CNY 2,000 (~$280)
Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan	CNY 800 (~$110)	CNY 1,000 (~$140)
Southeast/South Asia	CNY 800 (~$110)	CNY 1,200 (~$165)

Overweight/Oversized Fees:

Condition	Fee
Overweight (23-32 kg) Economy	CNY 1,000 (~$140)
Overweight (32-45 kg) Business	CNY 2,700 (~$375)
Oversized (159-203 cm)	CNY 1,000 (~$140)
Oversized (204-292 cm)	CNY 2,000 (~$280)

Domestic Flights: 1.5% of highest published Economy one-way fare per kilogram

Special Categories

• Students/Seafarers: 2 pieces at 23 kg each on international routes
• Infants: No free checked allowance; 1 stroller checked free
• Assistive Devices: Wheelchairs transported free, excluded from limits

Fees as of January 2025. Verify at ceair.com/baggage.

Cabin Classes

China Eastern operates four cabin classes on long-haul aircraft:

First Class (Select Aircraft):

• Available on Boeing 777-300ER, A350-900, Boeing 787-9
• 6 seats in 1-2-1 configuration
• 80" (203 cm) pitch with fully lie-flat beds
• Private suites on newest aircraft

Business Class:

• A350-900: Thompson Aero Vantage XL seats with privacy doors
  • 1-2-1 staggered configuration, 36 seats
  • 23" width, fully lie-flat bed
  • 18" touchscreen (32" for Business Plus front row)
  • Privacy doors, mini-bar on select seats
• Boeing 777-300ER: Reverse herringbone, 52 flat-bed seats
  • Direct aisle access for all seats
  • Personal entertainment system
• Boeing 787-9: 26 lie-flat seats

Premium Economy (A350-900, select routes):

• Collins Aerospace MiQ seats
• 2-4-2 configuration, 32 seats
• 38" (97 cm) pitch
• 19" seat width
• 7" recline with leg and foot rest
• 13.3" HD touchscreen

Economy Class:

• Pitch: 31-32" (79-81 cm)
• Width: 17-18" (43-46 cm)
• Recline: 3" (8 cm)
• Entertainment: 11.7" HD touchscreen on widebody aircraft
• USB-A and AC power at every seat on newer aircraft

Entertainment

• Long-haul: Seatback screens on all widebody aircraft
• Content: Movies, TV shows, music, games
• Languages: Chinese, English, and regional languages
• Personal devices: USB charging available

Dining

Business Class:

• Multi-course Chinese and Western menu options
• Premium wines and spirits
• Champagne service
• Chinese tea ceremony on select routes

Premium Economy:

• Enhanced meal service
• Complimentary alcoholic beverages
• Larger meal portions

Economy:

• Complimentary hot meals on international flights
• Chinese and Western options available
• Complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks
• Snacks and refreshments

Special Meals: Must be pre-ordered 24+ hours before departure (vegetarian, kosher, halal, etc.)

WiFi

WiFi available on select aircraft. Pricing varies by route. Check availability when booking.

Booking:

• Book directly at ceair.com for best service during disruptions
• Compare total cost including baggage when choosing fare class
• Basic Economy on Europe routes includes NO checked bag
• Americas routes generally include 2 checked bags in Economy (Y/B class)

Baggage:

• Domestic China uses weight system (20 kg Economy); international uses piece system
• Students and seafarers get enhanced allowances with documentation
• Pre-purchase excess baggage online for savings vs airport pricing
• Weight limits strictly enforced on China domestic flights

At the Airport:

• Shanghai Pudong (PVG) is large; allow ample connection time
• Use online check-in to save time
• SkyPriority lanes available for elite members
• First/Business lounges at PVG offer excellent facilities

Upgrades:

• Paid upgrade offers sometimes available at check-in
• Eastern Miles Gold/Platinum members have upgrade priority
• SkyTeam status recognized for priority services

Eastern Miles:

• Miles calculated in kilometers (easier to earn vs mile-based programs)
• Family pooling helps combine miles across household
• SkyTeam partners offer earning opportunities worldwide
• Miles transfer from credit card programs possible

Mobile App:

• Download the China Eastern app before travel
• Different app versions exist for US and China markets
• Keep booking confirmation screenshots as backup
• Some features may require Chinese phone number

Common Issues:

• App can be unstable; always have backup of booking details
• International flights often require printed boarding pass
• WiFi availability inconsistent across fleet
• Currency on China-departing flights typically CNY

Connections:

• Allow 2+ hours for international connections at PVG
• Domestic connections at SHA more efficient
• SkyTeam partner connections available at major global hubs